The Extra's Odyssey

"If only the spell to hide the orb worked on us outsiders, too."

"Outsiders?"

"People like us. Someone who has read the novel."

My throat was parched quickly.

"There is someone else who's read the novel?"

Lark ignored my question and stood up to leave.

"That's enough answers for one day. The reason I came here was to give a warning."

He walked up to me and patted my shoulders.

"Create a harem, become the strongest, open a business, or something else. I don't care what you do."

Coming closer, he whispered.

"But if the main storyline deviates because of you. I will kill you."

He pulled back and started smiling again.

Leaving me there, he went to the doors.

'There's no other choice.'

I channeled a small amount of Ether and Nether to my eyes.

Fusing them, I wrapped the harmonized energy around my eyes.

(What are you doing?)

'Making sure he doesn't detect [Appraisal].'

This was the only way to see if he was a reincarnator, as he claimed.

'[Appraisal]'

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Name: Lark Smiles

Race: Human

Rank: Iota(Lvl.11)

Stigma: [Echo-Location]

Disposition: Neutral-Evil

Title: -/-

-> Stats(Click to expand)

-> Skills(Click to expand)

Status: Possessed/Dazed

[Lark is under the control of ???]

======

"Motherfu.."

"Did you say something?"

"Yeah."

Lark's status said all.

Lark wasn't the one who was like me, an Outsider.

The real bastard wasn't even here!

"I said I wanted to ask one last thing."

'Looks like the real one wants to hide behind the mask called 'Lark'.'

'They are smarter than the credit I gave them for.'

With how much information they were given with each sentence, I took them as either crazy or careless.

I wanted to check the skills and stats too. Maybe I will find some clues there.

Thus, I stalled for time.

"Did other Outsiders receive a system quest too? How do you guys…."

'…plan to kill Mammon, one of the 13 Monarchs. Or is yours different?'

I spoke the last part in my mind. Because I made a mistake.

Lark has a shocked expression.

It made me realize that I had a slip of tongue.

'Do they not know about the System quest?'

"What do you mean by System-Quest?"

I didn't answer.

"I Said. What Do YoU MeAN BY SySTem-QUesT?"

Lark was beginning to act strange.

I stepped back a little, ready to fight at any moment.

"tch.."

Lark, who was on the verge of losing his cool, suddenly calmed down like a deflated balloon.

"You must have already used [Appraisal], haven't you? Although I don't know why I didn't feel its usage on me, you still saw it, right?"

Lark spoke leisurely.

His tone was calm, as if the previous outburst was a mirage.

"You don't know my identity. I can finish you and you wouldn't even know who did it. So, tell me when I'm asking nicely."

'Liar'

There was no way he will kill me.

I let out a small smile.

"Then kill me."

"What? Do you think I won't ki-"

"Yes, you won't"

I sat back on the couch and put my legs on the table.

"You won't kill me."

Lark frowned for the first time.

"Why are you so confident about it?"

I picked up the empty glass and stared at my reflection in it.

"Leon, Lilith, and Susan are already attached to me on a deeper level. If I die, their psyche will be affected. So, yes, you won't kill me because my death can drastically change their personality, especially Susan's."

Damn, I never thought I will make Leon and Susan my shield in such a way.

Lark clicked his tongue when I hit the bullseye.

"Let's do it this way, then. We'll make a bet."

"I'm listening"

"If you can find my identity in one year, I will tell you about your transmigration. You must be curious why you were brought into this world."

"And if I can't?"

"Tell me about the system-quest you received."

I held my chin with one hand and pondered.

Making my decision, I spoke.

"Let's change the terms a little."

"Continue"

"Tell me everything about the other Outsiders you spoke of. In exchange, I will uncover your identity within 3 months."

Lark opened and closed his mouth a few times.

He couldn't decide where I was getting my confidence from.

"Are you sure you only need 3 months?"

"Yup"

Sighing, he began speaking about the Outsiders.

"'Outsider' is the term I use for people like us. Other than us, there is one more outsider."

I nodded my head.

"The 1st Outsider is me. I reincarnated in this world with the memories of my previous world.

You are the 3rd Outsider. You transmigrated into this world a few months back.

As for the 2nd Outsider, I only know that they want to change the story."

I frowned at the vague description of the 2nd Outsider.

"And?"

He shook his head.

"That's all I know about the 2nd Outsider."

"Are you taking me for a fool?"

"I'm not. I don't know even their gender. If you don't believe me, we can use an Oath when we meet next."

The lack of information about the last outsider was troubling.

"There must be something, no? A mark on their body, way of behaving, talking, or anything else."

"I don't know. I only met them a few times. Back then, I opposed their idea of changing the novel and they suddenly stopped meeting me. I never heard anything from them since then."

"Hmm"

"If there is nothing else, I'll be leaving. I'll bring an Oath for our deal next time."

-CLICK

Lark stopped on the doorstep and turned.

"My warning still stands. If there are changes in the main storyline because of you, System-quest or not, I will kill you."

"It's fine, as long as it isn't a major change, yeah?"

"…Yes."

-CLACK

Lark finally left.

"Haaa…."

A deep sigh escaped my lips.

Just when everything with the novel was going well.

"Short break, my ass."

(Do you think you can discover their identity in three months?)

I stood up and started changing into my training clothes.

'Maybe? Maybe not?'

(What?!)

The news was too big of a bombshell for him. His shout almost made me deaf.

(Why did you give up the 1-year time limit?)

Eth began huffing in anger.

Damn, he doesn't believe in me one bit.

(What are the three months for?!)

-CLICK

Making sure everything was prepared I left my room.

'To prepare countermeasures.'